The process to sell a house takes months of preparation. As a home seller it can be an intimidating and unfamiliar process. Luckily we’ve created this outline to help you understand how long it will take to sell your house in Baltimore, MD.
The process to sell my house in Baltimore MD
The Renovation Process
Selling for top dollar requires a property that shows well. With the popularity of HGTV on the rise, buyers expect a house that is both beautiful and modern. They’re looking for open concept kitchens, custom tile bathrooms, and trendy color schemes. A typical renovation in Baltimore’s market will take anywhere between 1-4 months.
Listing Your Property
To list your property you will need to find a real estate agent whom you trust. The average Baltimore seller will interview three agents before they find one that fits their expectations. Once you select your agent you will need to sign all of the legal documents necessary to list your property. This is followed by professional photography which will be used to create a professional quality listing. You can expect this process to take 2-4 weeks.
Showings
It takes time for most houses in Baltimore to receive a contract. The average time required varies neighborhood by neighborhood. It is common for a house in Federal Hill to receive a contract in 2-3 week while a house in Hillen may take 3-6 months. If things are going well, weekends and evenings will be filled with showings. Buyers will be coming through the house and constructive feedback will be provided through your agent. Using this feedback it should take 4 months on average to receive an appropriate offer on your home in Baltimore.
Getting an Offer
It finally happened! You get a call from your agent that an offer is sitting in his/her inbox. The good news is that the buyers love your property, the bad news is that their offer is less than your list price. You want top dollar so you decide to negotiate. After a few days of back and forth you come to an agreement with the buy. It took a week but you finally have a contract on your property.
Closing
In Baltimore the process to close a contract takes between 45-60 days. During this time you will have inspections, appraisals, lender underwriting, a title search, and a final walk through. All of these things can cause the contract to fall apart and have your house back on the market for a new buyer.
When everything’s said and done you’re likely looking at an 8 month process from deciding to sell your property to finally walking away from the closing table. You may be asking yourself, “How can I speed up this process?” As a homeowner you a have a few alternative options.
Sell at an Absolute Auction
If you’ve ever been to a live auction then you know how invigorating a fast-talking auctioneer can make the sale of a property. Everyone gathers around a podium and the excitement builds as the auctioneer begins rambling out numbers. Hands in the audience raise in succession almost like a wave in the ocean. As you start to think it will never stop you hear, “Going once, going twice, sold to the gentleman in green.” Just like that, three minutes of excitement and it’s over, the house is sold.
While this is a dream for some, for others it can be a roller coaster of emotion. When selling your house at an absolute auction you are no longer in control. The final bid price is the sale price whether the seller is happy or not. To add insult to injury the auction house will collect 12% from the seller’s final price as a fee. While this option will sell your Baltimore house fast, there is a better alternative.
Sell to a Cash Homebuyer
A cash homebuyer is someone who wants to buy your house directly, for cash, on your timeline, in as little as 7 days. They cut out the middlemen so there are no Realtor fees, auction fees, or closing fees. It is a personal, professional transaction where nothing is sold until both parties feel as though it is a win-win. If you want to sell fast for cash then you need to call us at 443-520-3985 or fill out this short form to be contacted quickly with a fair offer. At Dependable Homebuyers we pride ourselves in providing quick solutions where everyone leaves a winner.